Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to fourth grade! I am very excited to spend this valuable academic time with them, as they are now in upper elementary. Here is a little background knowledge about my previous experience as a teacher. I have been teaching since 2005.  I am a graduate of Purdue University North Central.  I tutored Math, English, and Spanish for college students at Purdue North Central for Student Support Services for several years before teaching in an elementary setting.  I also worked at a daycare prior to teaching in an elementary school.  I student taught in fourth grade at Westville Elementary School, and am super excited to teach fourth again this year!  I taught second grade at East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy for 8 years, and taught first grade here at Ridge View for one year as well as fifth grade for three years.  I am very pleased to have the privilege of working with your child.  I am also a parent to a beautiful, six-year-old girl named Emma.  My husband and I both love education, as you may know, he is an Assistant Principal at Joan Martin Elementary School.  We feel very blessed to work with our future every day!  I believe that every student can succeed!  I already know that we will have a wonderful school year!  So, enough about me, let’s discuss the year in a glance.

I plan on assessing the students mostly on Fridays so they have ample time to study. About every three weeks there will be a Social Studies assessment (test). You will always receive a study guide prior to the Social Studies test. The students are responsible to take notes during instruction. Please keep in mind; we are trying to get them to be independent, responsible citizens so they can succeed later in Middle School.  Everything I do this year will be geared to obtaining maximum study skills so they will be successful next year in fifth grade.

Spelling and reading vocabulary assessments will also be given each Friday. Reading comprehension assessments will be on Wednesday and/or Friday.  Students will have daily homework, again to get them prepared for the structure and demands of fifth grade, Middle School, and ISTEP.  Students will have choice in their assignments though.  A typical night’s homework will include:  a reading text and social studies close read. Every three weeks, Social Studies study guides will be given for their assessment and reports will be given throughout the year.  You will receive a rubric for any report given to guide you so do not worry.

I will send out weekly newsletters through our classroom Facebook Page to communicate with you.  Please let me know individually if you do not have access to Facebook or choose not to be on it.  I will also post assignments and upcoming events on Skyward, as well as my professional website.  You can access my website through the School City of Hobart.  If you have any questions, you may always contact me through e-mail as well. 

Please keep in mind; I mostly love to call you to tell you positive things happening in the classroom.  I rarely call parents for behavior, so if you do receive a phone call in this regard about behavior, it is serious and needs to be addressed.  We can always do phone conferences when needed. 

Again, I am very excited to be a facilitator of your child’s learning.  I know this year will be paced to get the students ready for fifth grade and Middle School.  It will be very educational and productive.  Please contact me with any concerns.  Thank you for being supportive of your child’s learning. Together, we can achieve great gains in your child’s educational career.

Sincerely,

mckeeclass@hobart.k12.in.us